The purposes of this article are as follows:
A.
To promote and protect the public health, safety, morals and general
welfare of the Borough.
B.
To enhance pedestrian and vehicular safety.
C.
To maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment of the Borough.
D.
To promote the tasteful, progressive design of signs which are complementary
to the buildings they serve.
E.
To enhance the ability to attract sources of economic development
and growth.
F.
To encourage the effective use of signs as a means of identification
and communication.
G.
To promote signs which are designed utilizing clear, crisp lettering
and uncomplicated symbols which identify the intended message efficiently.
H.
To enable the fair and consistent enforcement of this article.
I.
To minimize adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private
property.
J.
To avoid the uncontrolled proliferation of signs.
K.
To prohibit the erection of signs in such numbers, sizes and designs
and locations that may create a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular
traffic.
L.
To avoid excessive competition for large or multiple signs so that
permitted signs provide adequate identification and direction while
minimizing clutter, unsightliness and confusion.
Signs may be erected and maintained only in compliance with
the provisions of this article, this chapter and any and all regulations
of the Borough of West Mifflin relating in any way to the erection,
location, size, height, use, number, lighting, operation, alteration
or maintenance of signs, billboards, banners and other similar advertising
devices as defined herein.
The following definitions of the various types of signs shall
be used in interpreting the provisions of this article:
A sign, greater than 50 square feet in area, displaying advertising,
whether of a stable or changeable copy nature, which pertains to a
business, organization, event, person, place, service or product not
principally located or sold on the premises upon which said sign is
located.
A freestanding ground sign or wall sign, designed so that
characters or letters can be changed or rearranged without altering
the face or surface of the sign, used by a school, church, library,
college, volunteer fire company or other public or semipublic building
to announce the name of the organization, hours of operation and changing
events directly related to that entity only.
A sign which is permanently affixed to a building or on a
freestanding pole sign structure that is designed so that characters,
letters or illustrations can be changed or rearranged without altering
the face or surface of the sign.
A sign which directs and/or instructs vehicular or pedestrian
traffic to on the premises relative to parking areas, entrances, exits,
loading areas, public telephones and similar information and which
shall contain no advertising other than the business name or logo.
A sign, or portion of a sign, that is designed so that characters,
letters or illustrations can be changed or rearranged electronically
without altering the face or the surface of the sign.
A sign supported by one or more uprights, poles or braces
permanently placed in the ground, which only identifies the business
or group of businesses located on the site, including:
GROUND SIGNA freestanding sign, the bottom edge of which is no more than 18 inches above the adjacent ground level.
POLE SIGNA freestanding sign erected on a pole or pylon, the bottom edge of which is high enough to provide visibility for motorists and allow for safe pedestrian circulation underneath it.
A sign which is lighted indirectly by means of lamps or lighting
devices external to and reflected on the sign, which lighting is stationary
and constant in intensity and color at all times.
An outdoor sign that draws attention to or communicates information
about a business service, commodity, activity, accommodation or attraction
or that draws attention to a cause or advocates or proclaims a political,
religious or other noncommercial message or other enterprise or activity
that exists or is conducted, sold, offered, maintained or provided
at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located.
A sign that draws attention to or communicates information
about a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction, point
of or other enterprise or activity or point of view that exists or
is conducted, sold, offered, maintained or provided on the premises
where the sign is located.
A sign, other than a wall sign, affixed to a building wall
whose leading edge extends beyond the building wall more than six
inches.
An on-premises sign that expresses an opinion, interest,
position or other noncommercial message.
A temporary sign which is not permanently affixed to the
ground, a structure or building and which may have wheels or is otherwise
designed to be moved easily.
A sign erected and maintained upon or above the roof of any
building and supported solely on the roof structure.
A banner, flag or pennant constructed of durable material
and erected for a specified period of less than 30 days whose sole
purpose is to advertise a special event. Said display shall be affixed
to the building.
A sign attached to and erected parallel to the face of an
outside wall of a building and projecting outward no more than six
inches from the wall of the building which only identifies the business
or group of businesses located in the building.
A.
No sign except those authorized by § 290-134 shall hereafter be erected or altered in any way unless a sign permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer.
B.
Application for sign permits shall be accompanied by such fee as
may be required by Borough Council.
D.
Unless specifically exempted in this article, a separate permit shall
be required for the erection, structural repair or alteration of any
sign regulated in this chapter. Sign permits shall be issued by the
Zoning Officer.
E.
Application for sign permits shall include two copies of the drawings
(to scale) necessary to show the following:
(1)
The design proposed;
(2)
The size, character and color of letters;
(3)
Lines and symbols;
(4)
Method of illumination;
(5)
The exact location of existing and proposed signs on a building;
(6)
The exact location of existing and proposed signs in relation
to the building and property; and
(7)
Details and specifications for construction.
F.
Application for sign permits shall include a computation of the total
sign area, the area for individual signs, the height of signs and
number of signs.
G.
The applicant shall present evidence that all requirements for bonding
and insurance, as required by the Borough, have been met.
The Borough of West Mifflin has adopted and enforces the Pennsylvania
Uniform Construction Code. Signs shall be designed and constructed
to meet the applicable provisions of this Code.[1]
These prohibited signs shall not be permitted in any zoning
district:
A.
A-frame or sandwich board signs.
B.
Portable or wheeled signs.
C.
Banners and pennants, other than temporary special event displays,
as authorized by this article.
D.
Flashing, moving or oscillating signs, except for that portion of a permitted sign which indicates time and temperature or electronic changeable copy signs per § 290-148.
E.
Signs on trees, guard and/or guide rails and utility poles, excluding
official traffic signs or traffic control devices.
F.
Signs which interfere with, imitate or may be mistaken for a traffic
control or a traffic signal.
G.
Signs on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers which are parked
on a public right-of-way, public property or private property, other
than temporarily for overnight storage on the site of the business
or for maintenance, repair, loading, unloading or rendering of any
service at any location, which are visible from the public right-of-way
and where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct
people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property.
H.
Signs painted on exterior walls of any building.
I.
Overhanging signs or roof signs.
The following signs shall be exempted from the regulations of
this article:
A.
Directional, information or public service signs, such as those advertising
availability of rest rooms, telephones or similar public conveniences
and signs advertising meeting times and places of nonprofit service
or charitable clubs or organizations, may be erected or maintained,
provided that such signs do not advertise any commercial or industrial
establishment activity or organization. Such signs shall not exceed
two square feet in area.
B.
Signs of schools, colleges, churches, hospitals or of institutions
of a similar nature relating exclusively to the identity, activities,
and services of such institutions, provided that such signs shall
not exceed 12 square feet in area and shall be limited to one such
sign for each separate use.
C.
Nameplates not exceeding two square feet in area.
D.
Signs situated on the Borough-owned rights-of-way or realty under
written agreement with the Borough of West Mifflin which permits said
signs; provided, however, said written agreement shall not exceed
a term of two years.
E.
Personal expression signs, provided that they shall not exceed 15
square feet in area, nor shall these signs exceed six feet in height,
and shall be set back from the street right-of-way a minimum of 10
feet.
The following temporary signs are permitted without a permit.
However, such signs shall conform to the requirements set forth below,
as well as all other applicable requirements of this chapter:
A.
Temporary signs, including signs advertising land or premises available
for purchase, development or occupancy or announcements of special
events or signs of mechanics or artisans, shall be permitted, provided
that:
(1)
Real estate signs shall not exceed six square feet in area,
and not more than two such signs shall be erected for any property
held in single or separate ownership. Such signs must be removed by
the person or persons erecting them upon completion of the sale or
rental of the property.
(2)
Temporary special event displays shall not exceed 32 square
feet in area and shall be limited to one per property.
(3)
Other such signs shall not exceed 18 square feet in area, shall
be limited to one per property and shall be removed immediately upon
the completion of work, and the site or building on which the sign
was erected shall be restored to its original condition upon removal
of such signs.
(4)
During the construction and development period of any C-2 Shopping
Center District involving a site of 75 contiguous acres or more, two
projecting signs consisting of 800 square feet per face may be permitted.
A.
For the purpose of determining the number of signs, a sign shall
be considered to be a single display surface or display device containing
elements organized, related and composed to form a unit.
The area of a sign shall include that area enclosed by one continuous
line connecting the extreme points or edges of a sign. The area includes
all lettering, wording or accompanying design or symbols, together
with the background (whether open or enclosed) on which they are displayed.
On a two-sided sign, only one face is counted in computing the sign's
area. The area of the sign does not include minimal supporting framework
or bracing, but all other ornamental attachments or decorative structures
shall be included in determining the area of a sign. When individual
letters are used separately on a plane surface, the spaces between
said letters shall be included in computing the area of the sign.
The following regulations shall be observed:
A.
No sign shall be erected within, or project into, the lines of a
street right-of-way, except traffic signs and similar regulatory notices
of a duly constituted governmental body.
B.
No artificial light or reflecting device shall be used as a part
of a sign where such light or device interferes with, competes for
attention with, or may be mistaken for a traffic signal.
C.
Floodlighting shall be arranged so that the source of light is not
visible from any point off the lot and that only the sign is directly
illuminated thereby.
D.
Flashing, moving, or oscillating lights are expressly prohibited.
E.
No sign shall be erected containing information on it which states
or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted
under the provisions of this chapter.
F.
Every sign permitted must be constructed of durable material and
kept in good condition and repair. Any sign which is allowed to become
dilapidated shall be removed by the Borough at the expense of the
owner or lessee of the property on which it is located.
G.
No projecting business sign shall be placed to face an abutting residential district, except when authorized as a special exception under the provisions of Article IX.
H.
No signs shall be mounted on communications towers, communications
antennas or communications equipment buildings, except as required
by the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Aviation Administration
or other governmental agency which has jurisdiction or to warn of
any danger.
I.
Mounted signs shall be installed parallel to the supporting wall
and project not more than 12 inches from the face of any such wall.
J.
A nonconforming sign on a nonconforming use may be continued, but
the area of such sign, or signs, shall not be increased.
K.
Signs shall not be painted directly on the surface of any building.
L.
With regards to a site in a C-2 Shopping Center District involving
75 contiguous acres or more, the Borough Council may permit a mall
pylon sign of larger area sufficient to make the sign intelligible
to the adjacent highway.
M.
Signs erected by the fastening of a board or other pre-painted materials
having pre-painted or printed thereon letters, words or insignia or
by erecting or superimposing separate cutout letters on the walls
of a building or the placing of said letters on a plane surface, which
projects from the walls of a building, shall not have a total area
in excess of two square feet per front foot of the building or space
within the building occupied on which they are erected. Where there
is a corner building, only one side of the building shall be included
in determining front feet of a building, but in no case may such a
sign on the side(s) of a corner building be in excess of two square
feet times the lineal length of the longest side.
The following provisions identify the types of signs, number
of signs, sign surface area, and sign setbacks permitted by specific
zoning district classifications:
A.
Signs authorized in all zoning districts. The following signs are authorized in all zoning districts indicated in Article III, Article IV, and Article V of this chapter. The limitations and regulations detailed below exist for the purpose of permitting reasonable advertising space while maintaining property values, maintaining appropriate commercial and residential areas and avoiding advertising wars based on sign size or some other sign attribute other than the sign message.
(1)
Bulletin board. One bulletin board which is indirectly illuminated
and which does not exceed 40 square feet in surface area shall be
permitted in connection with any school, college, church, hospital
or similar institution.
(2)
Temporary real estate sign. Two nonilluminated temporary real
estate signs shall be permitted on any property being sold, leased
or developed if located not less than 10 feet from the property line,
not in any required side or rear yard, and no larger in surface area
than six square feet in any other zoning district. No temporary real
estate sign shall be constructed to a height greater than six feet.
Such signs shall be promptly removed when the sale, lease or development
of the property has been completed.
(3)
Contractor's or artisan's signs. One nonilluminated
temporary construction sign announcing only the names of contractors,
mechanics or artisans engaged in performing work on the premises shall
be permitted on the lot, providing that the sign shall not exceed
12 square feet in area, shall not impede motorists' visibility
and shall be removed immediately upon completion of the work.
(4)
Temporary special event displays. One nonilluminated temporary
special event display sign shall be permitted to be erected on the
face of a public building, church or building housing a nonprofit
organization, provided that the sign is no more than 100 square feet
in surface area and is displayed for a period of no longer than 30
days and is removed within five days following the event that it is
erected to promote.
B.
Signs authorized in residential zoning districts. The following signs shall be permitted in all residential zoning districts indicated in Article III of this chapter:
(1)
One nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated permanent wall
or freestanding ground identification sign containing only the street
address and/or name of a residential subdivision plan or multifamily
building or development, which shall not exceed 15 square feet in
area. A sign identifying the name of a residential subdivision may
be affixed to a freestanding decorative wall rather than to a building
wall, provided that the decorative wall meets all applicable chapter
requirements and does not obstruct visibility for traffic entering
or leaving the plan.
(2)
One nonilluminated wall sign for an authorized home occupation,
which shall not exceed two square feet in area.
C.
Signs authorized in commercial and industrial zoning districts. The following signs shall be permitted in all commercial and industrial zoning districts indicated in Article IV and Article V of this chapter:
(1)
Temporary special event display. Temporary special event displays
shall be permitted, provided that:
(a)
No more than one sign or banner shall be permitted on any establishment
at any one time.
(b)
The temporary special event display signs shall be securely
attached to the building.
(c)
Temporary special event display signs may be displayed for a
specified period, which shall not exceed 30 days.
(d)
The aggregate surface area of all temporary special event display
signs shall not exceed 100 square feet per establishment. In the event
that there are more than two establishments on a site, the maximum
aggregate surface area of all temporary special event display signs
on the site at any one time shall not exceed 100 square feet.
(e)
Portable signs shall not be considered temporary special event signs. [See Subsection A(4) of this section.]
(f)
Temporary special event display signs shall be nonilluminated.
(2)
Directional signs.
(a)
Directional signs shall not be permitted on lots less than 20,000
square feet in area.
(b)
On lots with areas between 20,000 square feet and one acre,
a maximum of six nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated or internally
illuminated directional signs, each of which shall not exceed four
square feet in area, shall be permitted. For each additional acre
or fraction thereof, two additional directional signs shall be permitted.
(c)
Directional signs shall not be located on the right-of-way of
a public street and shall be of a height no greater than three feet.
Directional signs shall not be placed in a location which inhibits
clear sight distance for motorists or pedestrians and shall be placed
on the premises no further than 25 feet from the entrance to the property
that they are intended to identify or, if an interior directional
sign, no more than 10 feet from the parking area, driveway or other
facility they are intended to identify.
(3)
Changeable copy sign. In addition to the authorized business
identification signs, one nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated or
internally illuminated changeable copy sign shall be permitted per
lot, regardless of the number of businesses on the lot, which shall
not exceed 30 square feet in an area and which shall be permanently
affixed to the wall of the building or to an authorized freestanding
sign on the lot.
(4)
Wall identification sign. One nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated
or internally illuminated wall identification sign shall be permitted
on each building occupied in connection with any legal business or
industry, only if the following requirements are met:
(a)
The wall identification sign shall not have a surface area greater than two square feet for each linear foot of the wall upon which the sign shall be erected. [See Subsection C(4)(f) of this section.]
(b)
The wall identification sign may be placed on any side of the
building except where the property upon which the sign will be erected
borders residentially zoned property. In this case, the sign cannot
be placed on the side of the building facing the residentially zoned
property.
(c)
The wall identification sign shall not be located on the roof
nor extend above the height of the building except by variance or
special exception for copyrighted logo identification.
(d)
No sign shall project over any public sidewalk or street right-of-way.
An engineer-approved-design wall-mounted sign is permitted to project
from the building wall a minimum of 12 inches.
(e)
Single occupant only. Where the building fronts two streets,
two wall identification signs shall be permitted, and their location
shall be in conformance with this section.
(f)
Where more than one business sign is located in one building,
more than one wall identification sign shall be permitted, provided
that each wall identification sign shall not exceed two square feet
per linear foot of the facade for which each sign is intended. When
more than one sign will be erected on a single building, all these
signs shall be located on the front of the building.
(g)
Wall identification signs shall not be permitted in conjunction
with nonconforming uses or authorized conditional uses by special
exception in residential zoning districts.
(h)
All wall identification signs shall only contain advertisement
for the services or products sold or produced on the premises in which
the sign is located.
(5)
Freestanding identification signs; ground sign or pole sign.
In addition to a wall identification sign, one single- or double-faced,
nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated or internally illuminated freestanding
identification sign (ground sign or pole sign) may be erected on a
commercially or industrially zoned property. There shall be only one
ground or pole sign per lot which does not have multiple frontages.
If a ground sign exists or is proposed, a pole sign shall not be permitted.
If a pole sign exists or is proposed, a ground sign shall not be permitted.
All structures shall be set back 10 feet or more from the front property
line, measured vertically from the outermost appurtenance, and are
subject to the following requirements:
(a)
Lots with an area of less than 20,000 square feet or less than
100 feet in frontage shall not be permitted to erect a pole sign.
(b)
Lots with an area from 20,000 square feet to one acre and greater
than 100 feet in width shall be permitted to erect a pole sign. The
maximum height of the pole sign shall be 18 feet. The maximum size
of the pole sign shall be 0.5 square foot per linear foot of frontage
or 100 square feet, whichever is more restrictive. The pole sign shall
be set back not less than 35 feet from the front property line and
not less than 10 feet from all other property lines, except, where
the property abuts a public right-of-way, the sign shall be set back
not less than 10 feet from the right-of-way. The bottom edge of any
freestanding pole sign shall be a minimum of 10 feet above the normal
ground level if the area under the sign is landscaped and a minimum
of 14 feet above the finished grade if traffic circulates under the
sign.
(c)
The top of any pole sign on a property greater than one acre
in size shall not exceed 25 feet in height above normal ground level
and shall be set back not less than 10 feet from every property line,
except that, where the property abuts upon a public right-of-way,
the sign shall be set back not less than 35 feet from the right-of-way.
The bottom edge of any pole sign shall be a minimum of 10 feet above
the normal ground level if the area under the sign is landscaped and
a minimum of 14 feet above the finished grade if traffic circulates
under the sign.
(d)
The maximum height of a ground sign shall be six feet above
the adjacent ground level. All ground signs shall be located at least
10 feet from any property line, except that, where the property abuts
on a public right-of-way, the ground sign shall be set back at least
10 feet from the right-of-way and not within the traffic sight triangle.
(e)
The maximum surface area, as defined in § 290-130, for ground signs in any nonresidential zoning district shall be 0.5 square foot per linear foot of frontage or 100 square feet, whichever is more restrictive.
(f)
Freestanding ground or pole signs shall be permitted to be off-premises
signs.
(g)
Freestanding ground or pole signs may list more than one tenant
on the sign. At least 20% of the allowable sign should identify the
retail complex name. The remaining area may be equally divided into
identification of up to eight businesses. The sign must be one sign
with information about tenants and not different individual signs
for each tenant.
(6)
Additional signs for gasoline service stations.
(a)
For each gasoline service station canopy, one canopy sign and
logogram shall be permitted on each side of a canopy that faces a
public street or parking area. The total aggregate area of canopy
signs for this use shall not exceed one square foot per foot of length
of such canopy to which the sign is attached or a total of 50 square
feet, whichever is less. Canopy signs shall not extend beyond the
ends or extremities of the canopy to which they are attached.
(b)
In addition to the wall identification sign and freestanding
identification sign permitted by this subsection, gasoline service
stations shall be permitted a ground sign with physically changeable
or static electronic or digital letters and numbers that conforms
to all other ground sign standards. Gasoline service stations having
a total area greater than two acres which front on more than one street
shall be permitted two such signs in addition to the wall and freestanding
identification signs permitted by this subsection.
In nonresidential districts, lots having a total lot area greater
than two acres which front on more than one street shall be permitted
to have one authorized freestanding sign on each frontage. Any lot
in a nonresidential district which fronts on more than one street
shall be permitted to have one authorized wall identification sign
on each side of the building which faces the street.
No sign in any commercial or industrial district shall be placed
to face an abutting residential district except when authorized as
a special exception.
Signs shall be placed so that no visual obstructions are created
and so that a clear sight triangle as determined by the Zoning Officer
shall be maintained free of any obstructions.
No sign shall be located in such a position that it will cause
a hazard by obstructing or distracting visibility for traffic traveling
on a street or by obscuring a traffic signal or other traffic control
device.
No sign shall be erected in any public right-of-way, other than
official traffic signs or signals.
No sign shall move, flash, oscillate or emit noise, except as
permitted by this chapter. Signs shall be illuminated only when authorized
by this article. All illumination, when authorized, shall be directed
upon the sign face and not towards adjoining properties or roadways,
except electronic changeable copy signs. The intensity of any source
of illumination of any sign, whether indirect or internal, shall be
controlled so as not to create glare and to be compatible with the
intensity of ambient light and illumination on surrounding properties.
No sign shall be constructed, located or illuminated in any
manner which causes the sign or its illumination to be a nuisance,
to reflect undue glare or to create distraction, confusion, visual
difficulties or any other hazardous condition for drivers of vehicles,
pedestrians or operators of aircraft.
See § 290-68.
A.
Electronic changeable copy signs are permitted, with the following
restrictions:
(1)
Electronic
changeable copy signs are limited to 50% of the total area of the
sign, or 50 square feet in area, whichever is more restrictive.
(2)
Messages
shall be changed at a frequency of once every 15 seconds or more.
The time interval used to change from one complete message to another
complete message or display shall be a maximum of one second. There
shall not be any appearance of a visual dissolve or fading, in which
any part of one electronic message or display appears simultaneously
with any part of a second message.
(3)
Any
illumination intensity or contrast of light level shall remain constant.
B.
The restrictions of this section are not applicable to electronic
changeable copy billboards.
A.
All signs must be constructed of durable material, and all components
thereof, including, without limitation, supports, braces and anchors,
shall be kept in a state of good repair. Any sign found to be in an
unsafe condition upon inspection shall be declared to be a public
nuisance, and the Zoning Officer shall give notice to the owner, in
writing, to repair or remove the sign within 10 working days. Upon
failure of the owner to comply, the Borough shall remove the sign
at the owner's expense.
B.
If a sign other than a billboard advertises a business, service,
commodity, accommodation, attraction or other enterprise or activity
that is no longer operating or being offered or conducted, that sign
shall be considered abandoned and shall, within 180 days after such
abandonment, be removed.
C.
If the message portion of a sign is removed, leaving only the supporting shell of a sign or the supporting braces, anchors or similar components, the owner of the sign or the owner of the property where the sign is located or other person having control over such sign shall, within 180 days of the removal of the message portion of the sign, either replace the entire message portion of the sign or remove the remaining components of the sign. This subsection shall not be construed to alter the effect of § 290-51E, which prohibits the replacement of a nonconforming sign, nor shall this subsection be construed to prevent the changing of the message of a sign.
D.
A continuing sign permit shall lapse automatically if not renewed
or if the business license for the premises lapses, is revoked or
is not renewed. A sign permit shall also lapse if the business activity
on the premises is discontinued for a period of 180 days or more and
is not renewed within 30 days of a notice from the Borough to the
last permittee, sent to the premises, that the sign permit will lapse
if such activity is not renewed.
A.
Removal of sign. The Zoning Officer may order the removal of any
sign erected or maintained in violation of this article. He shall
give 30 days' notice, in writing, to the owner of such signs
or of the building, structure or premises on which such sign is located
to remove the sign or to bring it into compliance. Upon failure to
comply with this notice, the Zoning Officer or duly authorized representative
may remove the sign at cost to the owner. The Zoning Officer may remove
a sign immediately and without notice, at cost to the owner, if, in
his opinion, the condition or location of the sign is such as to present
an immediate threat to the safety of the public.
B.
Abandoned signs.
(1)
A sign shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises
upon which the sign is located when the business which it advertises
is no longer conducted on the premises. If the owner or lessee fails
to remove it, the Zoning Officer shall give the owner 30 days'
written notice to remove it. Upon failure to comply with this notice,
the Zoning Officer or his duly authorized representative may remove
the sign at cost to the owner.
(2)
Where a successor to a defunct business agrees to maintain the
signs as provided in this chapter, this removal requirement shall
not apply.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, noncommercial
copy may be substituted for commercial copy on any lawful sign structure.
